The demand for HVAC equipment in the U.S. is forecast to increase 6.8 percent annually through 2019 to $20.4 billion, recording gains at about twice the rate of the 2009-2014 period, according to a new study released in March by The Freedonia Group. 

MSP currently employs 46 workers and credits its good standing to Andy Ryan, who was hired as general manager about a year and a half ago.

Once you grow to a certain size and invest in a few additional trucks, hire some techs, maybe hire a helper or two, and bring in a couple office/administrative folks, suddenly you find no matter how good you are, referrals and repeat business just isn’t enough to keep everyone busy. You need more leads — like, yesterday.

Every year, The NEWS introduces the latest cooling equipment available for the upcoming summer season. This year's coverage features specific information about each individual product, as submitted by the manufacturers.

New company owners must be able to grasp certain business fundamentals and develop a support network they can rely on when they’re just starting out.

Demand for HVAC equipment in the United States is forecast to increase 6.8 percent annually through 2019 to $20.4 billion, recording gains over twice the rate of the 2009-2014 period, according to a new study from The Freedonia Group Inc., a Cleveland-based industry market research firm.

Despite receiving bipartisan support in both chambers of Congress last year as well as support from the HVAC industry and small businesses, the bill must pass the Senate and overcome a veto threat from President Barack Obama to become law.

Solar accounted for 32 percent of the nation’s new generating capacity in 2014, beating out wind energy and coal for the second year in a row. Only natural gas constituted a greater share of new generating capacity.

It seems many HVAC contractors are feeling positive about the year ahead, at least according to ACCA, which reported its January 2015 Contractor Comfort Index (CCI) scored a 74 — much higher than a year earlier when the CCI stood at 69. 

Year-to-date combined shipments of central air conditioners and air-source heat pumps increased 11.1 percent, and U.S. shipments of gas warm air furnaces increased 5.1 percent over the same period in 2013 (oil warm air furnaces increased 8 percent).